Fraud preventive for check controlled apparatus



March 12, 1935. A. H. STILLMAN 1,993,757

FRAUD PREVENTIVE FOR CHECK CONTROLLED APPARATUS Filed Jan. 5, 1935 2Sheets-Sheet 1 March 1935- A. H. STILLMAN 1,993,757

FRAUD PREVENTIVE FOR CHECK CONTROLLED APPARATUS Filed Jan. 5, 1933 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Alberf H. Sfillmom BY @Awmdg3mdm VQDZTQATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 12, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEK FRAUDPREVENTIVE FoR CHECK cori- TROLLED APPARATUS Application January 5,1933, Serial No. 650,214

16 Claims.

This invention relates to fraud preventives for check-controlledapparatus and has for its general object to provide new andimproveddevices, mechanism and apparatus for eliminating false andfraudulent coins and preventing the operation of a check-controlledapparatus associated with the invention by other than a true coin orcheck.

In the mechanism embodying the invention as herein shown, fraud,preventives for notched or rim-mutilated coins; steel coins; aluminum,bakelite and fiber coins or checks; lead coins; brass, copper, zinc, andaluminum coins are provided, these devices operating successively oncoins passing through chutes or chute sections or runways, with whichthe devices are associated; the various devices combining in aconcurrent operation to eliminate false coins particularly of the sortsreferred to, and to cause only true coins to pass into that portion ofthe chute system which is associated with the check-controlledapparatus.

Specific objects of the invention are to provide, first, new andimproved notched-coin eliminating devices; second, a new and improvedrunway and associate spring abutment for eliminating lead and likecoins; and, third, new and improved devices for setting up a field ofmagnetic flux to eliminate brass, copper, zinc and like coins.

To the above and other ends which will sub- 0 sequently appear theinvention consists in the features of construction, combinations ofdevices and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in detail andparticularly pointed out in the appended claims. In the specificationand claims the term coin is applied generally to checks or coins whetherfalse, defective or true.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawingswas particularly de- 40 signed for nickels or five-cent coins, but itwill be evident that it may be modified for coins of otherdenominations. In carrying out the inven tion as illustrated there areprovided three platelike members which support various parts and whichare arranged face to face to provide sections for part of the chutesystem. In the drawings Fig. 1 is a face view of the main plate partwith elements associated therewith,-

Fig. 2 is a face view of the second plate part, Fig. 3 is a face view orelevation of the third plate part,

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the planeindicated by the section line 55'4-4inFig.1,.

Fig. 5 is a view corresponding to Fig. 4 but showing some of the partsin different relations,

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on a plane indicated by the sectionline 6-6 in Fig. 1,

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on a plane indicated by the sectionline 77 in Fig. 1,

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on a plane indicated bythesection line 8--8 in Fig. 1,

Fig. 9 is is a horizontal sectional view taken on plane indicated by thesection line 9-9 in Fig. 1. 10

Referring specifically to the drawings, theplates or plate aforesaid areindicated respectively by the munerals 10, 11, and 12, these platesbeing secured together face to face by screws or in any other suitablemanner. As illustrated the plate 15 11 is secured to the plate 10 byscrews 13, suitable devices as spacers 14 being interposed to maintainthe two plates properly spaced apart in parallelism. The plate 12 inturn is secured to the plate 11 as by screws 15. a

The main part of the chute system comprises angularly related portionsor sections, these being chiefly defined by strips screwed or otherwisesecured to the inner face of the plate 10. Thus the strips 16, 17cooperate to d fine the mouth 25 or entrance-way 18 of the chute systemand the vertical portion 19 leading therefrom, as well as the beginninginclined portion of the first section.

This first chute section is rightwardly and downwardly inclined as seenin Fig. 1 generally indicated by the numeral 20, the lower portion ofthe chute section being in part defined by the strips 21, 22 and 23,while the off-chute or discard section 24 is in part defined by thestrips 25,26 and 27. The I strip 25 cooperates with the strip 23 and thestrip 28 to define the second portion, 29 of the chute system which isleftwardly inclined; and its branches 30 and 31 are defined in part bythe plates 28 and 27, these being irregularly shaped for the purpose.Another ofi-chute or discard runway 32 in a. different vertical planefrom the coin chute system is defined by strips 33 and 34 secured .tothe'plate 11 (Fig. 2), these strips 33 and 34 also serving as spacers toseparate the plates 11 and 12 and the plate 12 serving as a cover forthe off-chute 32. v As shown in Fig. 1 the notched coin eliminatordevice generally designated by the numeral 35 is arranged near the upperend of the chute portion 20, being suitably mounted on the plate 10.Coins indicated by the letter C are inserted in the mouth 18, drop downthrough the vertical chute portion 19 and after rolling a slightdistance through the upper part of the chute section 20 enter into thenotched coin eliminator 35'. This eliminator device as will beunderstood from Figs.

1, 4 and 5 comprises a frame constituted by a yoke piece 36 shaped likean inverted U and having its lower ends. connected by a rectangularcross bar 37 of heavier material so arranged as to constitute the bottomof the chute section 20 following the plate'17. The yoke 36 is pivotedat 3'7 to lugs 38 on the plate 10, and at its lower portion carries apivot rod 39 on which are pivoted the lower end portions of a set orseries of angular members or plates 40 having lateral extensions at thetop which extend over the chute section 20. The plates 40 have diagonaledges 41 which cooperate with the perimetric edges of coins passingthrough the chute section. Normally the lateral extensions of the plate40 rest on the bottom wall of a slot 41 in the plate 10, and through theaction of gravity, and when coins run down the chute section they act tocam the plates 40 upward out of the way. If, however, the perimetricedge or corner of a coin is notched orimperfect the edge 41 in one ofthe plates will engage in the notch and arrest the coin. The set ofmembers 40 extends lengthwise of the chute section 20 for a distancesomewhat greater than the circumference of the coins, so as to insurethat the full extent of the circumference will be contactively engagedwith the arrested devices. To clear the notched coin eliminator it isconnected with a key-actuated train of devices indicated at 42,

which is effective to swing the frame 36, 37 to the position shown inFig. 6, thus freeing arrested coins and permitting them to drop downinto the discard chute 32, the widened mouth of which is provided byoppositely bent portions 11 and 12 of the plates 11 and 12.

The eliminator for steel coins comprises, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6, apermanent horseshoe magnet 43 screwed or otherwise secured to a bracket44-on the plate 10 and having its pole portions 45 projecting laterallyinto the chute section 20 so as to effect retardation of steel, iron orsimilar coins passing the notched coin eliminator and rolling over theupper faces of the pole portions. The result is to cause such coins todrop into the flared mouth of the discard chute 32.

The next eliminating device is provided for light false coins such asdisks or slugs of bakelite, aluminum or fiber, said eliminating devicecornprises a light metallic finger 46 (Figs. 1 and '7) pivoted at itsupper end at 47 to the plate 10 and adapted to swing freely about saidpivot 47. The finger depends into the chute section 20 and its lower endportion is in the path of such coins as pass the eliminator or steeltester 45. Such coins if sufficiently weighty will swing the finger 46to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1, and will drop onto the face23 of the plate 23. Coins that are underweight, however, will beobstructed by the finger 46 and willdrop down into the discard chute 32.

Such coins as pass the finger 46 and drop on the face 23 will bemomentarily slowed up owing in part to the difference between angularityof this face and the preceding inclined bottom portion of the chute20;thence such coins will pass over the face 23 of the plate 23. which hasan angularity or inclination to the horizontal approximating that of thefore part of the chute and will'be carried by their momentum intocontactive engagement with a contact member or abutment device 48 (Figs.1 and 8). Thedevice 48 is a block, preferably of light metal such asaluminum pivoted at or near its upper end at 49 to the plate 10.Attached to its rear or right-hand manent magnetic type.

face is a leaf spring 50, the lower free end of which I rests against apin 51 projecting laterally from the plate 10 and which provides a stopfornormally positioning the spring-pressed block 48. The normal positionof the block or member 48 may be conveniently varied by bending orotherwise resetting the spring 50. This adjustability of the blockcombined with the arresting or retarding face 23 which coacts with thefinger 46 to slow up coins passing through the lower portion of thechute section 20, provides convenient means for regulating theeliminating mechanism comprising the spring-pressed block 48 which isprimarily for coins that are overweight, such as lead. As a matter ofpractice I prefer to adjust the device 48 in respect to the true coins,that is, to insure that true coins and coins of corresponding weightwill be caused to rebound (from the left-hand contact face of the block48) sumciently far leftward to clear the tip 25 and pass down leftwardthrough the chute section 29. As a consequence of such adjustmentoverweight coins will fail to rebound sufficiently, causing more or lessyield of the block 48, and will drop down through the discard chute 24,which is in a vertical longitudinal plane to the rear of the discardchute 32, but substantially in the same transverse plane. The lower endportion of the block 48 is cut away or slabbed off so as not tointerfere with the downward drop of the false overweight coins.

Coins passing leftward down the chute section 29 are as a result of theprevious elimination tests perfect in form and of a weight and substanceapproximating true coins. Such coins include usually besides the nickelsor true coins, false coins of copper, zinc, and in some cases aluminum,together with alloys or compounds of these metals such as brass, etc.Such coins are subjected to an elimination test based on theirdiamagnetic properties, being caused to pass through a magnetic field offlux which is set up by a magnetic device which may be of theelectro-magnetic or per- The testing device herein shown has novelfeatures, primarily involving adjustability for varying the intensity ofthe eddy or'Foucauld currents through the flux field. To establish thefield there are provided pole pieces of a general conical shape havingcylindrical end portions 53 which fit into openings in the plates 10 and11 at opposite sides of the chute 29. The pole pieces may be andpreferably are secured 'to the plates by friction or otherwise so as toinsure against accidental displacement. Associated with the pole pieces52 is a magnet proper which as herein shown is of the permanenthorseshoe type and is constituted by two parts 54 and 55. These looselyembrace the plates 10 and 11 and the lower part or magnet section 54 isseated on a support constituted by one or more brackets 56 attached tothe plates. The upper magnet or magnet part 55 rests on thelower magnet54 and is preferably movable in relation thereto. While both of themagnets 54 and 55 may be adjustable relatively to their pole pieces, Ihave found it convenient to secure the lower magnet 54 on its supportand in fixed relation to the pole pieces, it having developed inpractice that suflicient variation of the flux field is afforded byadjusting the magnet 55 alone. A suitable device indicated at 57isemployed to maintain the magnet 55 in adjusted positions.

By moving the magnet 55in and out longitudinally the intensity of fluxmay be controlled and regulated so as to insure proper results,it beingapparent of course that by moving the magnet 55 longitudinal-ly'leftwardin Fig. 1

so that its end portions will partly clear the outer faces of thestationery pole pieces, the magnetic intensity will be reduced. This isa practical feature of importance since it does away with the nicety ofconstruction and delicacy of adjustment heretofore necessary in thechutes below the flux field and in the relation of these chutes to thechute preceding the flux field. For example, the separator between thetrue or, diamagnetic coins which pass through the chute branch 31 andthe paramagnetic false coins which pass through the chute branch 30 isconstituted by the beveled end portion 2'? of the strip or plate 2'7.This is an ordinary machine construction screwed to the plate 10 andrelated to the plate 25 with tolerances which do not require fineconstruction or adjustment since it is only necessary after the stripshave been secured to the plate to adjust and set the magnet 55 in such away as to obtain a field intensity which will cause the paramagneticfalse coins to be retarded and to drop downward to the right of theseparator 2'7 while permitting the nickels to pass over the separatorand drop down into the chute branch'31, the lower end of which isassociated with an apparatus, ordinarily a vending or change-makingmachine, which is operative or unlocked by a true coin.

It is believed that from the foregoing the construction and operation ofthe disclosed embodiment of the invention will be fully understood.

Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention.

I claim:

1. In mechanism of the class described, the combination of a coin chuteand a series of angular plates arranged side by side and having a commonpivotal support at their lower ends and lateral extension projectingacross the top portion of the chute, said plates having diagonal edgessuccessively engaged by corner portions of coins passing through saidchute and operating to enter irregularities in the corner portions toarrest the coins.

2. In mechanism of the class described, the combination of a coin chuteand a series of pivoted angular members successively and independentlyacting on the perimetric edges of coins passing through said chute, andmeans for bodily moving said membersto free arrested coins.

3. In mechanism of the class described, the combination of a coin chuteand a series of angular plates arranged side by side and having a commonpivotal support at their lower ends and lateral extension projectingacross the top portion of the chute, said plates having diagonal edgessuccessiveiy engaged by corner portions of coins passing through saidchute and operating to enter irregularities in the corner portions toarrest the coins, and means for at will movin said common pivotalsupport to free arrested coins.

4. In mechanism of the class described, the combination of a coin chute,a notched coin eliminator comprising a pivoted frame, one member ofwhich provides a bottom surface for the coin chute, and a set of memberspivoted in said frame and successively and independently acting on coinspassing through said chute, and means for at will moving said frame toopen the bottom of said chute and release arrested ,coins.

5. In mechanism of the class described, the combination of an inclinedcoin chute, and a pivoted spring-pressed abutment cooperating with coinsat the end' of said chute, the pressure of said abutment beingadjustable to control the action of the abutment on coacting coins, thebottom of said chute having a rest portion cooperating with coins inadvance of said abutment, and a plurality of passageways for receivingcoins after coaction with said abutment, the action of theabutmentselecting the particular passageway in which the coin is received.

6. In mechanism of the class described, the combination of a coinchute,a magnetic device comprising pole pieces projecting into the chutefrom opposite sides, and a magnet proper movable relatively to said polepieces to simultaneously and equally vary their magnetic effect.

7. In mechanism of the class described, the combination of a coin chute,a permanent magnet having a substantially constant magnetomotive forceand pole pieces projecting through the opposite side walls of saidchute, said pole pieces being variably setable in relation thereto, asupport for the magnet proper, and means for at will varying at a singleoperation the relationship between the magnet and its pole pieces tovary the reluctance between the pole pieces.

8.' In mechanism of the class described, the combination of an inclinedcoin chute, magnetic pole pieces projecting through the opposite sidewalls of said chute, a horizontally disposed horseshoe magnet embracingsaid chute and engaging the outer faces of said pole pieces, and asupport for said magnet, said magnet being movable on its support whilethe normal relationship between the chute and the pole pieces ismaintained to simultaneously and equally vary the magnetic effect ofsaid pole pieces at opposite sides of the chute.

9. In mechanism of the class described, the combination of a coin chute,magnetic devices comprising pole pieces projecting into the chute fromopposite sides, and a two-part permanent magnet, one 'part fixedlyrelated to said pole pieces and the other part adjustably relatedthereto to simultaneously and equally vary the magnetic effect of saidpole pieces at opposite sides of the chute.

10. In mechanism of the class described, the combination of a coinchute, magnetic devices comprising pole pieces projecting into the chutefrom opposite sides, and a two part horseshoe magnet cooperating withsaid pole pieces, the two parts of the magnet being relativelyadjustable to-simultaneously and equally vary the magnetic effect ofsaid pole pieces at opposite sides of the chute.

11. In mechanism of the class described, the combination of a coinchute, a magnetic device comprising pole pieces projecting into thechute from opposite sides, and a two part horseshoe magnet cooperatingwith said pole pieces, the parts being capable of variable relationship,and means for maintaining the two parts in fixed positions afterrelative adjustment to simultaneously and equally vary the magneticeffect of said pole pieces at opposite sides of the chute.

12. In mechanism of the class described, the combination of an inclinedcoin chute the bot tom of which comprises at least three successivefaces, each disposed at a different angle to the horizontal and apivoted pendant member disposed so that its lower free end portion willoperate substantially at the junction of the first and second faces ofsaid chute, said pivoted pendant member cooperating with the upperadvanced portion of a coin passing through the chute and forcing it toroll continuously over the second or intermediate face from one end tothe other thereof. I

13. In mechanism of the class described, the combination of an inclinedcoin chute having an intermediate part of its bottom angularly disposedin relation to the preceding or forepart and the succeeding part of thebottom and at a substantially less angle of inclination than saidforepart, a pivoted pendant member so mounted as that its free lowerportion will cooperate with the upper portion of coins immediately afterthey leave the forepart of the bottom and through the effect of itsweight will cause said coins to roll continuously over said intermediateportion of the bottom from one end to the other thereof, and coincontrolling devices subsequently cooperating with such coins.

14. In mechanism of the class described, the

combination of a coin chute inclined at less thanan angle of 45 to thehorizontal, a spring-pressed abutment pivotally mounted so as to"cooperate with coins below its pivotal axis if they have passed saidchute, the pressure of said abutment being adjustable to control theextent of rebound of coacting coins and a plurality of passageways forreceiving coins after they have contactively engaged with said abutment,one of said chutes being substantially vertical and said abutment beingdisposed at one side of said substantially vertical chute and insubstantial alinement with one of the chute walls, the eflect of theaction of the abutment being to select the passageways in which thecoins are received.

15. In mechanism of the class described, the combination of a coinchute, a magnetic device having a substantially unvarying magneto motiveforce and comprising pole pieces projecting into the chute from oppositesides, and means for at will varying the magnet reluctance between saidpole pieces while maintaining a constant relationship between them. 16.In mechanism of the class described, the combination of a coin chute, amagnetic device having a. substantially unvarying magneto-motive forceand comprising pole pieces projecting into the chute from oppositesides, and means for at will varying the magnet reluctance between saidpole pieces while maintaining a constant relationship between them, saidmeans comprising devices for altering the relationship between themagnet proper and its pole pieces.

ALBERT H. STIILMAN.

